Apparatus for Controlling the Temperature of a Liquid

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for controlling the temperature of water in a tank for cooling a liquid such as beer flowing in a multiple coil circuit submersible in the water in the tank. The apparatus comprises a tank, at least one divider for dividing the tank into at least two compartments. At least one compartment being a beer coil compartment for receiving the coils carrying the beer and at least one compartment being an ice compartment for receiving and storing ice from an ice making machine. Pump is provided for pumping water from the ice compartment into the at least one other compartment.

The present invention relates to an apparatus for controlling thetemperature of a liquid and in particular to an apparatus forcontrolling the temperature of water in a tank for cooling a liquid suchas beer flowing in a multiple coil circuit submersible in the water inthe tank.

The present system for cooling certain alcoholic beverages such as beerinvolves kegs of beer being stored and chilled in a cold room which hasits own refrigeration system. The beer in the kegs is cooled down to atemperature of approximately 8° C. by the refrigeration system in thecold room. In order to reduce the temperature of the beer even further,a prior art system known as an ice-bank system is shown in Fig. A wherethe beer is passed through stainless steel coils (C) which are immersedin ice cold water (W) in a tank (T). When a bar person opens a beer tapin a bar, the beer leaves the stainless steel coils (C) and travels viaa python which is a plurality of intertwined beer and water lines outthrough the open tap in the bar. In order to keep the beer cold as ittravels along the python, cold water is pumped out of the water bath upthrough the python water line (PW). This water is fed into a u-bend andreturns back down the python water line (PW) and back into the watertank (T).

Evaporator coils (E) are disposed around the periphery of the water tank(T) in communication with the water and are coupled to a remotecondensing unit (RC). An expansion valve (V) controls the flow ofrefrigerant through the ice-bank evaporator coils (E). The main problemwith the prior art system is that no heat can be removed from the waterwhen the remote condensing unit (RC) is switched off. The remotecondensing unit (RC) is generally controlled by a mechanical switchwhich is activated by the ice bank (I) becoming a certain thickness andextending to a certain point along the tank (T). The mechanical switchis located to prevent the ice bank (I) contacting and damaging the beercoils (C). The remote condensing unit (RC) comes back on when sufficientice has melted. A second problem with this system is that the waterreturning from the python water line (PW) is significantly warmer andthese two situations in tandem lead to the temperature of the water inthe water tank (T) creeping up until the beer in the coils (C) reachesan unpleasant drinking temperature.

It is an object of the present invention to overcome the problemsoutlined above in order to provide more effective control of thetemperature of the water in a water tank in which beer coils aresubmersed to ultimately provide more effective control of thetemperature of the beer.

Accordingly, the present invention provides an apparatus for controllingthe temperature of water in a tank for cooling a liquid such as beerflowing in a multiple coil circuit submersible in the water in the tank,the apparatus comprising a tank;

at least one divider for dividing the tank into at least twocompartments;

at least one compartment being a beer coil compartment for receiving thecoils carrying the beer;

and at least one compartment being an ice compartment for receiving andstoring ice from an ice making means; and

pump means for pumping water from the ice compartment into the at leastone other compartment.

Preferably, the tank is insulated.

Ideally, the at least one divider is insulated.

Ideally, the divider is formed to allow water to flow between the icecompartment and the at least one other compartment and to prevent theflow of ice from the ice compartment to the at least one othercompartment.

Preferably, the ice compartment and the at least one other compartmentare beer coil compartments.

Ideally, the ice is slush-ice.

Preferably, there is provided agitating means for agitating water fromthe tank around the beer coils.

Preferably, the agitating means is coupled to the pump means.

Ideally, the pump means are submersed in the water in the tank.

Preferably, the pump means has an associated temperature control meanssuch as a thermostat to start or stop pumping when the water in the atleast one beer coil compartment reaches a predetermined temperature.

Ideally, slush-ice making means are disposed adjacent the icecompartment for making and delivering slush-ice into the icecompartment.

Preferably, the slush-ice making means are disposed above the icecompartment.

Preferably, a feeder pipe for feeding water to the slush-ice makingmeans is coupled to the pump means submersed in the water.

Ideally, a python pump means is submersed in the tank and is coupled towater carrying pipes of a python for pumping cold water alongside thebeer being carried in beer carrying pipes of the python.

Preferably, the return water carrying pipes of the python deliver waterinto the slush-ice compartment.

Ideally, the slush-ice making means has a worm and a refrigeration unit.

Preferably, the slush-ice making means has an ice making electronic unitfor controlling the generation and distribution of slush-ice.Advantageously, the ice making electronic unit is in communication withthe electronic control unit of the apparatus which indicates that moreice is required when the amount of ice decreases to a predeterminedminimal quantity.

In a first embodiment, the apparatus has a tank having three beer coilcompartments each of which is formed for receiving a multiple coilcircuit for carrying various different types of alcoholic beverages.

Ideally, a primary divider is mounted in the tank for dividing the icecompartment from the two beer coil compartments.

Preferably, a secondary divider is mounted in the tank and together withthe walls of the tank and the primary divider forms the three beer coilcompartments.

Ideally, the primary divider and the two secondary dividers are formedto allow water to flow between the beer coil compartments and the icecompartment but to prevent the flow of slush-ice from the icecompartment to any of the beer coil compartments.

Preferably, the height of the dividers is less than the height of thesurrounding tank walls.

Ideally, the height of the dividers increases with distance from the icecompartment.

Advantageously, each beer coil compartment fills up to the top of thedivider with water until the excess water overflows into the adjacentcompartment and ultimately back into the ice compartment.

Preferably, an ice compartment pump is submersed in the slush-ice/watercombination for pumping water from the ice compartment into the otherbeer coil compartments.

Ideally, an agitating arrangement is provided for agitating water aroundthe beer coils.

Ideally, in a first embodiment of agitating arrangement there isprovided a compressor, the compressor having at least one outlet pipewith the at least one outlet pipe having at least one open end adjacentthe beer coils in at least one of the beer coil compartment.

In an alternative second embodiment of agitating arrangement, a feederpipe is coupled between the ice compartment pump means and a headerhaving at least one outlet pipe extending there from, the at least oneoutlet pipe having its own valve, preferably a thermostaticallycontrolled solenoid valve and its own air injector.

In both embodiments, there are three outlet pipes.

Preferably, a slush-ice making apparatus feeder pipe is also connectedbetween a highest temperature beer coil compartment pump means and theslush-ice making apparatus for feeding water to the slush-ice makingapparatus.

Ideally, a beer coil compartment feeder pipe is connected between thepump and its open end is at a level below the surface of the water inthe tank.

Preferably, one pump located in the ice compartment pumps ice cold waterinto a second beer coil compartment and a separate second pump alsolocated in the ice compartment pumps ice cold water into a third beercoil compartment.

Preferably, a python pump is submersed in the slush-ice/water mixture inthe slush-ice compartment and is coupled to water delivery pipes of thepython and water return pipes of the python return the water into theslush-ice compartment. Advantageously, the returned water does notincrease the temperature of the water in contact with the beer coilswhich is a significant technical advance over the old ice-bank systemshown in Fig. A and described in the introduction.

Preferably, a worm of the slush-ice making apparatus feeds flaked iceinto the ice compartment of the tank.

Ideally, a motor of the ice compartment pump means is electronically orelectrically controlled via thermostats located in the beer coilcompartments.

Preferably, each of the solenoid valves of the second embodiment ofagitating arrangement are individually thermostatically controlled whichallows three separate water temperatures in the three separate beer coilcompartments.

Preferably, the air injectors of the second embodiment of agitatingarrangement operate when the corresponding solenoid valves are opened toagitate the ice cold water at an increased pressure around the surfaceof the immersed beer carrying coils. Advantageously, this enhances thecooling effect of the ice-cold water and further improves the efficiencyof the cooling system.

Ideally, the python pump is controlled by its own temperature controldevice and is powered on when the water in the ice compartment reaches apredetermined temperature in the region of 5° C. The separatetemperature control device for the python pump prevents warm watertravelling up the water delivery pipes of the python if a fault occursin the cooling system.

Preferably, an electronic control unit is incorporated for controllingthe operation of the at least one pump motor in response to signals fromat least one thermostat.

Ideally, the electronic control unit controls the operation of thecompressor.

Preferably, the electronic control unit controls the operation of thesolenoid valves.

Ideally, the electronic control unit controls the operation of the icemaking electronic unit.

Additionally, the electronic control unit has a microcontroller and acontrol program stored thereon containing a set of instructions formonitoring and controlling the operation of the apparatus.

Preferably, the electronic control unit has communication means.

Ideally, the communications means allows two way communications betweenthe electronic control unit and a remote monitoring station.Advantageously, the communications means facilitates remote diagnosticsand/or repair of the electronic control unit and apparatus via landlineand/or free space communications protocols.

Preferably, the free space communications protocols are selected fromone of GPS, GPRS, GSM, MODE, 3G-UMTS, IEEE 802.11 WLAN.

Ideally, an external circuit pump means is mounted in the tank and iscoupled to a heat exchanger mounted in a closed space distal to thetank.

Preferably, the heat exchanger is mounted in a bottle cabinet.

Alternatively, the heat exchanger is mounted in a cold room.

Accordingly, the present invention also provides an apparatus forcooling an enclosed space comprising a tank having an ice compartmentfor receiving ice from an ice making means, an external circuit pumpmeans mounted in the ice compartment of the tank and being coupled to aheat exchanger mounted in the enclosed space.

Preferably, a fan is mounted proximal to the heat exchanger in theenclosed space. Advantageously, the fan blows air across the heatexchanger to uniformly distribute the cooling effect of the ice coldwater flowing through the heat exchanger such as a finned coil.

Ideally, the enclosed space is a bottle cabinet.

Alternatively, the enclosed space is a cold room.

In a second embodiment of apparatus, there is provided a tank with adivider dividing the tank into an ice compartment and a beer coilcompartment.

Ideally, a slush-ice compartment pump is submersed in theslush-ice/water combination for pumping water from the slush-icecompartment into the beer coil compartment.

Preferably, an agitating arrangement is provided for the beer coilcompartment for agitating water around the beer coils.

Ideally, the agitating arrangement is coupled to the slush-icecompartment pump and has four agitating heads spaced apart to agitatedifferent portions of the beer coils. A slush-ice making apparatusfeeder pipe is connected between the agitating arrangement and theslush-ice making apparatus.

Preferably, a thermostatically controlled valve is located on a feederpipe between the agitating arrangement and the ice compartment pump.

Ideally, a beer coil compartment pump is also coupled to the feeder pipeand has a thermostatically controlled valve mounted on a secondaryfeeder pipe extending between the beer coil compartment pump and thefeeder pipe.

Preferably, a python pump is submersed in the beer coil compartment andis coupled to water delivery pipes of the python and water return pipesof the python return the water into the ice compartment.

Ideally, an ice compartment pump control thermostat measures apredetermined water temperature being reached in the beer coilcompartment of the tank and closes an electrical circuit to allow powerto a motor of the ice compartment pump and to the valve to open it.

Preferably, a beer coil compartment pump control thermostat closes itselectrical circuit at a predetermined temperature and the motor of thebeer coil compartment pump is powered on and the valve is opened.

Ideally, an electronic control unit is incorporated to monitor thethermostats and control the operation of the pumps and valves based onsignals from the thermostats and/or in response to a control programexecuting on the electronic control unit.

In a third embodiment, the apparatus has a tank with a divider dividingthe tank into an ice compartment and beer coil compartment and an icecompartment pump is submersed in the slush-ice/water combination forpumping water into the beer coil compartment.

Ideally, a beer coil compartment feeder pipe is teed and the open end ofan underwater agitating pipe is located below the water in the beer coilcompartment for agitating water around the portion of the beer carryingcoils submersed in the water.

Preferably, a header feeding portion of the feeder pipe is also teed andheader portion extends into a header and the other slush-ice makingapparatus portion extends into the slush-ice making apparatus.

Ideally, the header feeding portion has a valve and the header portionalso has a valve.

Preferably, a beer coil compartment pump is submersed in the water inthe beer coil compartment of the tank and is coupled to the header.

Ideally, the header is coupled to an agitating arrangement having fouragitating heads by an agitating arrangement feeder pipe and the waterdelivery pipes of the python extend from the header.

Preferably, the water return pipes of the python returns the water intothe ice compartment.

Ideally, an electronic control unit is incorporated to monitorthermostats located in the beer coil compartment and to control theoperation of the pumps and the valves in response thereto.

In all embodiments, a refrigeration system having an evaporator, acondenser, a compressor an expansion valve and refrigerant fluid isincorporated with all three embodiments and is electronicallycontrollable.

The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanyingdrawings, which show by way of example only, three embodiments ofapparatus for controlling the temperature of a liquid in accordance withthe invention. In the drawings:—

Fig. A is a schematic drawing of a prior art ice-bank system;

FIG. 1 is a schematic drawing of a first embodiment of apparatus forcooling beer;

FIG. 2 is a schematic drawing of a second embodiment of apparatus forcooling beer;

FIG. 3 is a schematic drawing of a third embodiment of apparatus forcooling beer;

FIG. 4 is a schematic drawing of a fourth embodiment of apparatus forcooling beer; and

FIG. 5 is a schematic drawing of an apparatus for cooling an enclosedspace.

Referring to the drawings and initially to FIG. 1 there is shown anapparatus for cooling beer indicated generally by the reference numeral1. The apparatus 1 has an insulated tank 2 having three beer coilcompartments 3 a, 3 b and 3 c each of which is formed for receiving amultiple coil circuit for carrying various different types of alcoholicbeverages. The insulated tank 2 has an ice compartment and in thisembodiment, a slush-ice compartment 4 for receiving slush-ice from aslush-ice making apparatus 5. A primary divider 6 is also insulated andis mounted in the tank 2 for dividing the slush-ice compartment 4 fromthe three beer coil compartments 3 a, 3 b and 3 c. Two secondaryinsulated dividers 12 and 14 are mounted in the tank 2 and together withthe insulated walls of the tank 2 form the three beer coil compartments3 a, 3 b and 3 c. The primary divider 6 and the two secondary dividers12, 14 are formed to allow water to flow between the beer coilcompartments 3 a, 3 b and 3 c and the slush-ice compartment 4 but toprevent the flow of slush-ice from the slush-ice compartment 4 to any ofthe beer coil compartments 3 a, 3 b or 3 c. The height of the dividersincreases from the primary divider 6 to the secondary divider 14 toallow excess water to flow over the top of the dividers and back intothe slush ice compartment 4. A slush-ice compartment pump 15 issubmersed in the slush-ice/water combination for pumping water from theslush-ice compartment 4 into the beer coil compartments 3 a, 3 b and 3c. An agitating arrangement indicated generally by the reference numeral18 is provided for agitating water around the immersed beer coils ofeach of the beer coil compartments 3 a, 3 b and 3 c. The agitatingarrangement 18 is coupled to the slush-ice compartment pump 15 andcomprises a separate feeder pipe 20 a, 20 b and 20 c each feeding one ofthe beer coil compartments 3 a, 3 b and 3 c respectively. Each of thefeeder pipes 20 a, 20 b and 20 c has its own valve, preferably athermostatically controlled solenoid valve 21 a, 21 b and 21 c and itsown air injector 22 a, 22 b and 22 c. A beer coil compartment feederpipe 26 is connected between the pump 15 and its open end is at a levelbelow the surface of the water in the tank 2.

A python pump 31 is submersed in the slush-ice/water mixture in theslush-ice compartment 4 and is coupled to water delivery pipes 32 of thepython (not shown). Water return pipes 33 of the python return the waterinto the slush-ice compartment 4. Advantageously, the returned waterdoes not increase the temperature of the water in contact with the beercoils which is a significant technical advance over the old ice-banksystem shown in Fig. A and described in the introduction.

In use, a worm of the slush-ice making apparatus 5 feeds flaked ice intothe slush-ice compartment 4 of the tank 2. A motor of the submersedslush-ice compartment pump 15 is electronically or electricallycontrolled via thermostats located in the beer coil compartments 3 a, 3b and 3 c and on demand, ice cold water is pumped through the feederpipes 20 a, 20 b and 20 c. Each of the solenoid valves 21 a, 21 b and 21c are individually thermostatically controlled which allows threeseparate water temperatures in the three separate beer coil compartments3 a, 3 b and 3 c. The beer coil compartment feeder pipe 26 has a portion35 which extends from the pump 15 and is teed into the feeder pipe 26.When a temperature above the desired temperature is measured by athermostat submersed in any one of the beer coil compartments 3 a, 3 bor 3 c an electrical circuit is completed and power is transmitted tothe respective solenoid valve 21 a, 21 b or 21 c to open the valve andto the motor of the pump 15. When the respective solenoid valve opensice-cold water is pumped by the pump 15 into the respective beer coilcompartment 3 a, 3 b or 3 c via the respective feeder pipe 20 a, 20 b of20 c until the temperature of the water is lowered to the desiredtemperature. The air injectors 22 a, 22 b or 22 c are pressure operatedand come on when the corresponding solenoid valves 20 a, 20 b or 20 care opened to pump the ice cold water at an increased pressure onto theimmersed surface of the beer carrying coils. This enhances the coolingeffect of the ice-cold water and further improves the efficiency of thecooling system. The thermostat measures the desired cold temperaturebeing reached and signals the relevant solenoid valve 21 a, 21 b or 21 cto close and if desired turns the pump 15 off.

It will of course be appreciated that all of the solenoid valves 21 a,21 b or 21 c can be open at the one time or indeed all of the solenoidvalves can be closed at the one time depending on the temperature of thewater being measured by the thermostats in the beer coil compartments 3a, 3 b and 3 c. When all three valves 21 a, 21 b and 21 c are closed thebeer coil compartment feeder pipe 26 can act as a pressure relief forthe pump 15 if the pump is running and will agitate the water in each ofthe beer coil compartments 3 a, 3 b and 3 c without having a greateffect on the temperature of the beer being carried in the coils. Thepython pump 31 is controlled by its own temperature control device andis powered on when the water in the slush-ice compartment 4 reaches apredetermined temperature in the region of 5° C. The separatetemperature control device for the python pump 31 prevents warm watertravelling up the water delivery pipes 32 of the python if a faultoccurs in the cooling system.

An electronic control unit (not shown) can be readily incorporated forcontrolling the operation of the pump motors and the solenoid valves 21a, 21 b and 21 c in response to signals from the thermostats.Additionally, the electronic control unit has a microcontroller and acontrol program stored thereon containing a set of instructions formonitoring and controlling the operation of the apparatus 1. A landlineand/or free space communications device is also readily incorporatedinto the electronic control unit for communication with a remotestation.

Referring to the drawings and now to FIG. 2, there is shown a secondembodiment of apparatus for cooling beer indicated generally by thereference numeral 101. The apparatus 101 has an insulated tank 102 withan insulated divider 106 dividing the tank 102 into a slush-icecompartment 104 and a beer coil compartment 103. The divider 106 is ofsimilar construction to the divider 6 of FIG. 1. A slush-ice compartmentpump 115 is submersed in the slush-ice/water combination for pumpingwater from the slush-ice compartment 104 into the beer coil compartment103. An agitating arrangement 118 is provided for the beer coilcompartment 103 for agitating water around the beer coils immersed inthe tank 102. The agitating arrangement 118 is coupled to the slush-icecompartment pump 115 and has four agitating heads 120 spaced apart toagitate the water around different portions of the immersed beer coils.A slush-ice making apparatus feeder pipe 125 is connected between theagitating arrangement 118 and the slush-ice making apparatus 105.

A thermostatically controlled valve 121 is located on a feeder pipe 122between the agitating arrangement 118 and the slush-ice compartment pump115. A beer coil compartment pump 151 is also coupled to the feeder pipe122 and has a thermostatically controlled valve 152 mounted on asecondary feeder pipe 154 extending between the beer coil compartmentpump 151 and the feeder pipe 122. A python pump 131 is submersed in thebeer coil compartment 103 and is coupled to water delivery pipes 132 ofthe python (not shown). Water return pipes 133 of the python return thewater into the slush-ice compartment 104.

In use, a slush ice compartment pump control thermostat measures apredetermined water temperature being reached in the beer coilcompartment 103 of the tank 102 and closes an electrical circuit toallow power to a motor of the slush-ice compartment pump 115 and to thevalve 121 to open it. The pump 115 pumps ice-cold water into the feederpipe 122 through the open valve 121 and out through the four agitatingheads 120 around the beer coils immersed in the water in the tank 102.When sufficient ice-cold water has been pumped around the beer coils inthe beer coil compartment 103, the temperature of the water in the tank102 starts to fall. When a predetermined temperature of water has beenreached the thermostat opens the electrical circuit and the motor of theslush-ice compartment pump 115 is powered off and the valve 121 is shut.At this temperature a beer coil compartment pump control thermostatcloses its electrical circuit and the motor of the beer coil compartmentpump 151 is powered on and the valve 152 is opened. Pump 151 pumps thewater in the beer coil compartment 103 through secondary feeder pipe154, via valve 152 into feeder pipe 122 and out through the fouragitating heads 120 around the immersed beer carrying coils. Thiscontinues until the water in the beer coil compartment 103 of the tank102 reaches a predetermined temperature at which point the beer coilcompartment pump 151 shuts down and the valve 152 closes by action oftheir associated thermostat. At this temperature, the slush-icecompartment pump 115 is powered on by the slush-ice compartment pumpcontrol thermostat closing the electrical circuit and the cyclecontinues as explained above. In this way the temperature of the waterin the beer coil compartment 103 is accurately controlled. Additionally,water is pumped by both pumps 115, 151 to the slush-ice making apparatus105 via the slush-ice making apparatus feeder pipe 125. An electroniccontrol unit is readily incorporated to monitor the thermostats andcontrol the operation of the pumps and valves based on signals from thethermostats and/or in response to a control program. A landline and/orfree space communications device is also readily incorporated into theelectronic control unit for communication with a remote station.

Referring to the drawings and now to FIG. 3, there is shown a thirdembodiment of apparatus for controlling the temperature of a liquidindicated generally by the reference numeral 201. The apparatus 201 hasan insulated tank 202 with an insulated divider 206 dividing the tankinto a slush-ice compartment 204 and beer coil compartment 203. Aslush-ice compartment pump 215 is submersed in the slush-ice/watercombination for pumping water into the beer coil compartment 203. Thebeer coil compartment feeder pipe 222 is teed and the open end of anunderwater agitating pipe 223 is located below the water in the beercoil compartment 203 for agitating water around the portion of the beercarrying coils submersed in the water. A header feeding portion 225 ofthe feeder pipe 222 is also teed and header portion 228 extends into aheader 227 and the other slush-ice making apparatus portion 229 extendsinto the slush-ice making apparatus 205. The header feeding portion 225has a valve 231 and the header portion 228 also has a valve 232.

A beer coil compartment pump 241 is submersed in the water in the beercoil compartment 203 of the tank 202 and is coupled to the header 227.The header 227 is coupled to an agitating arrangement 218 having fouragitating heads 220 by an agitating arrangement feeder pipe 242 and thewater delivery pipes 233 of the python (not shown) extend from theheader 227. The water return pipes 234 of the python returns the waterinto the slush-ice compartment 204.

In use, when a predetermined water temperature is reached in the beercoil compartment 203, a thermostat closes an electric circuit and themotor of the slush-ice compartment pump 215 is powered on and valves 231and 232 are opened. Ice-cold water is pumped through the feeder pipe 222and into the underwater agitating pipe 223 into the water in the beercoil compartment 203 to swirl the water around the portion of the beercarrying coils submersed in the water. Ice-cold water also passes alongthe header portion 228 into the header 227 via valves 231 and 232 andinto the slush-ice making apparatus 205 via the slush-ice makingapparatus portion 229. The ice-cold water is pumped through the header227 and into the agitating arrangement 218 and out through the fouragitating heads 220. The ice-cold water is sprayed around the portionsof the beer carry coils which are immersed in water in the tank 202.

A beer coil compartment pump thermostat reacts to another watertemperature being reached by closing another electric circuit whichsends power to the motor of the beer coil compartment pump 241 and thepump 241 pumps water up the water delivery pipes 233 of the python andback down the water return pipes 234 into the slush-ice compartment 204.An electronic control unit (not shown) can be readily incorporated tomonitor the thermostats and to control the operation of the pumps 215,241 and the valves 231 and 232 in response thereto. A landline and/orfree space communications device is also readily incorporated into theelectronic control unit for communication with a remote station. Arefrigeration system having an evaporator, a condenser, a compressor anexpansion valve and refrigerant fluid is incorporated into the slush-icemaking apparatus of all embodiments and is electronically controllable.

Referring to the drawings and now to FIG. 4 there is shown a thirdembodiment of an apparatus for cooling beer. The apparatus is similar tothe apparatus 1 of FIG. 1 in that it has an insulated tank 2 havingthree beer coil compartments 3 a, 3 b and 4 each of which is formed forreceiving a multiple coil circuit for carrying various different typesof alcoholic beverages. The tank 2 has an ice compartment 4 which alsoperforms the function of a beer coil compartment so the primary divider6 has been removed from the apparatus of FIG. 1. The slush-icecompartment 4 is formed for receiving slush-ice from a slush-ice makingapparatus 5. Two secondary insulated dividers 12 and 14 are mounted inthe insulated tank 2 and together with the insulated walls of the tank 2forms the three beer coil compartments 3 a, 3 b and 4. The two secondarydividers 12, 14 are formed to allow water to flow between the beer coilcompartments 3 a, 3 b and 4 but to prevent the flow of slush-ice fromthe slush-ice compartment 4 to any of the other two beer coilcompartments 3 a or 3 b. The height of the dividers increases from thesecondary divider 12 to the secondary divider 14 to allow excess waterto flow over the top of the dividers and back into the slush icecompartment 4. A slush-ice compartment pump 15 is submersed in theslush-ice/water combination for pumping water from the slush-icecompartment 4 into the beer coil compartment 3 b. A second slush-icecompartment pump 515 is submersed in the slush-ice/water combination forpumping water from the slush-ice compartment 4 into the beer coilcompartment 3 a. An agitating arrangement is provided for agitatingwater around the immersed beer coils of each of the beer coilcompartments 3 a, 3 b and 4. The agitating arrangement comprises acompressor 19 with three separate feeder pipe 20 a, 20 b and 20 c eachfeeding one of the beer coil compartments 3 a, 3 b and 4 respectively.The compressor 19 is controlled to blow air into the feeder pipes 20 a,20 b and 20 c even when no water is being pumped. A slush-ice makingapparatus feeder pipe 25 is connected between beer coil compartment pump615 and the slush-ice making apparatus 5 for feeding water to theslush-ice making apparatus 5.

A python pump 31 is submersed in the slush-ice/water mixture in theslush-ice compartment 4. Water return pipes 33 of the python return thewater into the slush-ice compartment 4. Advantageously, the returnedwater does not increase the temperature of the water in contact with thebeer coils in 3 a or 3 b which is a significant technical advance overthe old ice-bank system shown in Fig. A and described in theintroduction.

In use, a worm of the slush-ice making apparatus 5 feeds flaked ice intothe slush-ice compartment 4 of the tank 2. A motor of the submersedslush-ice compartment pumps 15 and 515 is electronically or electricallycontrolled via thermostats located in the beer coil compartments 3 a,and 3 b and on demand, ice cold water is pumped through the feeder pipes220 a and 220 b. The volumetric flow rate of ice cold water to be pumpedfrom the ice compartment 4 to the beer coil compartments 3 a, 3 b tobring the compartments temperature from a measured temperature to thedesired temperature when beer is flowing through the submersed coils isempirically measured during testing and the pumps are selected based ontheir ability to produce these flow rates. When a temperature above thedesired temperature is measured by a thermostat submersed in any one ofthe beer coil compartments 3 a, 3 b an electrical circuit is completedand power is transmitted to the motor of the respective pump 15, 515.The compressor comes on at predetermined times when liquid is flowingthrough the coils to agitate the water around the immersed surface ofthe beer carrying coils. This enhances the cooling effect of theice-cold water and further improves the efficiency of the coolingsystem. The thermostat measures the desired cold temperature beingreached and signals the respective pump 15, 515 to turn off.

The python pump 31 is controlled by its own temperature control deviceand is powered on when the water in the slush-ice compartment 4 reachesa predetermined temperature in the region of 5° C. The separatetemperature control device for the python pump 31 prevents warm watertravelling up the water delivery pipes 32 of the python if a faultoccurs in the cooling system.

An electronic control unit (not shown) can be readily incorporated forcontrolling the operation of the pump motors in response to signals fromthe thermostats. Additionally, the electronic control unit has amicrocontroller and a control program stored thereon containing a set ofinstructions for monitoring and controlling the operation of theapparatus. A landline and/or free space communications device is alsoreadily incorporated into the electronic control unit for communicationwith a remote station.

Referring now to FIG. 5, an apparatus 51 for cooling an enclosed spacesuch as a bottle cabinet or a cold room is shown having a tank 52 withan ice compartment 54 for receiving ice from an ice making machine 55.An external circuit pump 56 is mounted in the ice compartment 54 of thetank 52 and is coupled to a heat exchanger 57 such as a finned coilmounted in the enclosed space. A fan 58 is mounted proximal to the heatexchanger 57 in the enclosed space. Advantageously, the fan 58 blows airacross the heat exchanger 57 to uniformly distribute the cooling effectof the ice cold water flowing through the heat exchanger 57 throughoutthe enclosed space of the bottle cabinet or the cold room.

Variations and modifications can be made without departing from thescope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

1. An apparatus for controlling the temperature of water in a tank forcooling a liquid such as beer flowing in a multiple coil circuitsubmersible in the water in the tank, the apparatus comprising a tank,at least one divider dividing the tank into at least two compartments,at least one compartment being a beer coil compartment to receive thecoils carrying the beer and at least one compartment being an icecompartment to receive and store ice from an ice making means, the icemaking means being disposed above the ice compartment and pump means topump water from the ice compartment into the at least one othercompartment to control the temperature of water in the at least oneother compartment to control the temperature of water in the at leastone other compartment.
 2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, whereinthe ice compartment and the at least one other compartment are beer coilcompartments.
 3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein agitatingmeans are provided for agitating water from the tank around the beercoils.
 4. An apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein the agitatingmeans is coupled to the pump means.
 5. An apparatus as claimed in claim1, wherein the pump means are submersed in the ice compartment of thetank.
 6. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pump means hasan associated temperature control means to switch the pump on and offwhen the water in the at least one beer coil compartment reaches apredetermined temperature.
 7. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1,wherein the ice making means is a slush-ice making means disposedadjacent the ice compartment.
 8. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1,wherein a feeder pipe for feeding water to the ice making means iscoupled to the pump means submersed in the water in the tank.
 9. Anapparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein a python pump means issubmersed in the tank and is coupled to water carrying pipes of a pythonfor pumping cold water alongside the beer being carried in beer carryingpipes of the python.
 10. An apparatus as claimed in claim 9, whereinreturn water carrying pipes of the python deliver water into the icecompartment.
 11. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the icemaking means has an ice making electronic unit for controlling thegeneration and distribution of ice.
 12. An apparatus as claimed in anclaim 1, wherein the height of the at least one divider is less than theheight of surrounding tank walls.
 13. An apparatus as claimed in claim3, wherein the agitating means has a compressor, the compressor havingat least one outlet pipe with the at least one outlet pipe having aperforated end adjacent the beer coils in at least one of the beer coilcompartments.
 14. An apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein the pythonpump is controlled by its own temperature control device.
 15. Anapparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein an electronic control unit isincorporated for controlling the operation of the pump means in responseto signals from the temperature control means.
 16. An apparatus asclaimed in claim 15, wherein the electronic control unit controls theoperation of the compressor.
 17. An apparatus as claimed in claim 16,wherein the electronic control unit has a microcontroller and a controlprogram stored thereon containing a set of instructions for monitoringand controlling the operation of the apparatus.
 18. An apparatus asclaimed in claim 17, wherein the electronic control unit controls theoperation of the ice making electronic unit.
 19. An apparatus as claimedin claim 18, wherein the electronic control unit has communicationmeans.
 20. An apparatus as claimed in claim 19, wherein thecommunications means allows two way communications between theelectronic control unit and a remote monitoring station.
 21. Anapparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein an external circuit pump meansis mounted in the tank and is coupled to a heat exchanger mounted in anenclosed space distal to the tank, the pump means pumping water throughthe heat exchanger.
 22. An apparatus as claimed in claim 21, wherein theheat exchanger is mounted in a bottle cabinet.
 23. An apparatus asclaimed in claim 21, wherein the heat exchanger is mounted in a coldroom. 24-25. (canceled)